Piano action



4 SheetsSheet l.

P, ZEOH.

PIANO ACTION (No Model.)

N0. 330,080. Patented NOV. 10, 1885.

INYENTUR WITNEE5E5 4 Sheets Sheet 2. P ZEGH PIANO ACTION.

(No Model.)

No. 330,080. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

INYENTUF;

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

F. ZEOH.

PIANO ACTION.

Patented Nov. 10, 1885..

INVENTEIE* WITNEEEEE (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4. F. ZEGH.

PIANO ACTION. No. 330,080. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

INVENT UR. ram/M 3W5 [97}! 6WWZ/ wwflzCf UNITED STATES PATENT FREDERICK ZEOH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PlANO-ACTiON.

SPECIPICATIQE I forming part of Letters Patent No.330,080, dated November 10, 1885.

Application filed September 10, 18 4. Serial No. 142.706. (No model.)

To It whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ZEoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Forte Actions, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to improvements in piano-forte actions; and the object of my improvements is to provide a double-repeating action for piano-fortes, which may be applied to any form of piano, whether it be square, grand, or upright, and which maybe removed for repairs when necessary without removing the hammer-rail or disturbing any of the other actions or keys. This object I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved piano-forte action applied to a grand piano and showing the parts in a position of rest. Fig. 2 is likewise a side elevation showing the position of the parts immediately after a string has been struck. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the same action applied to an upright piano. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the; action.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A represents the key, which is pivoted on the balance-pin B in the usual manner.

0 is the pedal-cushion, operated by usual connection made with the pedal, and it is pivoted to the framework by a screw, D, and is tilted up by the pedal to shorten the stroke of i the hammer. The hammer E is pivoted at the end of its shank F to the frame-work at the point G, and is provided at its extreme end with a downwardly-prcjeeting shank or tang, I-I, bent at nearly a right angle to the hammer-shank.

I is the back-check, against which the claw end of the hammer rests after a blow has been struck and the key is held down, as shown in Fig. 2.

Near the inner end of the key A, I screw the check-block J, slotted at its upper end to receive the lower end of the action,which rests upona pin, K, traversing or placed across and within the slot.

The piano-action proper consists of two pieces of wood, L and M, which are hinged together by a mortise-and-tenon joint and a hinge-pin, N. The lower end of the section L is bored or rounded out, so as to leave a short open-ended slot, 0, having on either side shoulders O O, as shown in Fig. t. This piece when in position rests lightly upon the pin K within the slotted end of the checlcblock. The tenon P of the upper section, M, is pro vided with an outwardly-projecting lug, Q, and the upper end of the section is mortised out, leaving shoulders Q Q, which embrace the lug Q on the under side of the hammershank. The shoulders are made with openended slots Q Q, faced with felt, and a sawkerf is made on one side of the slot for the purpose of rendering the shoulder on one side of the slot more springy. The open-ended slots Q receive a pin, Q, passing transversely through the lug Q. About midway of the length of the upper section ahole,1t, isbored, and beneath it a second hole is bored, which is filled up by a punch, R, which projects slightly beyond the face of the wooden section. A regulating-screw, S, having on its end a punch, S, passes through the punch It and is screwed into a cleat, S secured across the back of the section M. Just above the cleat S a piece of wood, S", is secured, having two shouldersbetween which is'pivoted by a pin, S", the lever Near the middle of this lever, and on the outer face thereof, a punch, T, is made fast by a screw-pin for the purpose of adjustment. On the inner face of the lever, and at the lower end thereof, I attach the felt cushion T, which strikes against the lug Q when the action is in operatiomand bends the two sections of the action. Along cleat or lug, U, is attached to the outer face of the section L,and extends up above it for a short distance and rests or presses against the face of the upper section, M. The inner face of this lug or cleat is faced with felt to deaden all sound, and the upper end is provided with an open ended slot (not shown in the drawings) through which the regulating-screw S passes. Near the middle of the section L, and on the opposite side to the cleat U, I secure a bracket, V, having an upwardly-curved nose or point, V, which is faced over with felt or soft leather. A cord, V, is attached to the upper end of the lever S, and is led through the hole It and made fast to the spring-rod V, which is attached by its lower end to the section L, and by its tension acts to straighten out the action after it has been bent and a key struck.

Vhen the device is in a state of rest, the parts will occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, with the two sections Land M of the action aligned and the pins K, N, and Q all on the same line. Should the key be now struck,the inner end thereof will be raised up, and like wise the hammer, the parts composing the action remaining in their aligned position; or, in other w rds, the upward movement of the inner end of the key will be communicated in a straight line through the medium of the action to the hammer, raising up the outer end thereof and causing it to strike the string Z. As the hammer continues to ascend, the bent shank or tang H moves in unison with it until it strikes against the punch T on the lever S and forces its lower end and the cushion T over against the lug Q, pressing it into the mortise in the top of the section L and causing the two sections of the action to assume an angle toward each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4E. The degree or angle to which the sections of the action may beinclincd is controlled by the regulating-screw S and punch S.

The two sections of theaction remain aligned until the instant that the hammer strikes the string, when at the same time the tang H strikes the punch T and forces over the lever S causing the bending of the action, which permits the hammer to instantly drop down from the string, even though the finger end of the key still be held down by the hand of the performer, and there is no danger of blocking, and a repeating stroke or strokes may be given by the hammer without having to first allow the key to rise to its normal position.

\Vhen the soft-pedal is put on,the length of play or stroke given to thekey and hammer is shortened up, making it easier to play piano and permitting of a lighter touch by the performer, and this action will repeat even when the play of the key is very short-say, for a distance of about one-eighth of an inch.

With the old form of piano-actions it was necessary to remove the ham merrail to obtain access to a key or action for the purpose of removing or repairing it; but with my improved construction this is unnecessary, as ready and immediate access can be had to each action, and any one action or its key may be removed without disturbing any of the others.

It will be readily seen that this device is simple in its construction, being composed of but few parts. It is certain in its action, not liable to get out of order, and takes up less room than the actions heretofore in common use, and can be produced at a small cost of manufacture.

It will also be seen that the impetus given to the hammer, causing it to strike the string, is given in a direct thrust or line of impact, and that instantaneously with the striking of the string this line of thrust is broken by the projecting tang on the hammer-shank striking against the lever of the piano-action and breaking the said line of thrust, thereby allowing the hammer to drop and preventing blocking, and also that as soon as the hammer drops the spring-rod of the action immediately causes the two sections of the action to resume their original aligned position,ready for the repeating stroke.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by" Letters Patent, 1s

1. A piano forte action consisting of the sections L and M hinged together, one of the sections having a lug, Q, engaged by a lever, S operated by a bent shank, H, on the end of the ham mcr-shank, and connected by a cord, V to a spring-rod, V substantially as shown, for the purpose set iorth.

2. In a piano-forte action, the combination, with a key having check-block J, and a ham mer, E, having a pivoted shank, F, provided with tang H, of the hinged sections L M, cleat U, bracket V, having point V, the lever S cord V spring V, cushion T, punches T R S, and regulating-screw S, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal. 

